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Xbox 360 is blowing it by not including DVI or HDMI

hdbeat.com — Four years ago, it was acceptable to provide an "HD A/V Pack" with component cables. In 2005 and beyond, that option simply is not acceptable for several reasons.

Who dugg this? Made popular Aug 20, 2005

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  • jesusphreak, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1Is it a suprise that a website with the title, "hdbeat" would be complaining about HD?

    MS is supporting HD to a completely new level with the 360. Heck, you can even get a VGA hook-up, so the vast majority of us without HDTVs can still experience high-def.
  • danio, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0you don't need it
  • BugMeNot2, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0REMEMBER:
    The games are the main selling points of a console.
  • Jersey2FL, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0He is right. It's not a matter of who has the connections now. If your gonna be all HD and the console for the next several years, then a pure digital connection should be included.
  • AlltheBodies, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0I don't suppose it would be that huge of a deal if not for one problem. All J. Allard does is tout the "360" as THE console to bring HD to the masses. Sure component is technically HD, but without even a next-gen DVD drive, component isn't exactly the next step up. If the new Xbox isn't even including more than component, how can they back up a $100 upgrade for what amounts to the smallest drive 2.5" available and a wireless controller?
  • mushoo, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1At least they're not foregoing it all together like nintendo.
  • adml_shake, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0I'm with BugMeNot, to many people worry about this kind of crap and not actual GAME content.
  • chosenone-, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0"you don't need it" Unless you want games to be running in awesome resolutions, of course.

    jesusphreak: Because that site deals with HD it's voicing its concerns for the nativeness of HD in the 360.
  • batman88, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1Yeah, because soooo many people want/have a PS3...
  • GuyNextDoor, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1MS isn't blowing anything. Sure they've made some "interesting" decisions with the two tiered pricing, and by not making the HDD standard equipment, but come on people...most people I know don't even know what COMPONENT cabling is yet, much less DVI/HDMI - MS is catering to a larger audience than to the wealthy geekdom Home Theater owners. COMPONENT looks fantastic to me, and I venture to bet in a side by side test, most of you would not be able to pick the DVI from the HDMI from the COMPONENT connected displays.

    "there is absolutely no excuse for not including both hdmi and hd-dvd at least as launch options."

    LOL hale..."THERE IS NO EXCUSE!" You do know the cost of HD-DVD systems right now -- RIGHT? "But but but...SONY is going to have BLU-BLU-BLU Ray when it launches!" - you say? When PS3 launches in LATE '06, it's going to cost a good whallop of cash (easily 500 bucks), and you are going to have to fork over extra above and beyond the core unit (which will be a PS3 with ONE controller and maybe the cheapest cable set they can throw inside the box). All this technology isn't getting any cheaper, grow up people, you pay for what you get. If HD-DVD was an option, they would have had to charge 500 bucks for the core system easily - unless we all expect these giant companies to bend over backwards and suck down MONSTROUS losses on each system sold.
  • Elranzer, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Component is not going to start to look ugly anytime soon. It's good enough for the next couple of years.
  • Legondaree, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1"REMEMBER:
    The games are the main selling points of a console."
    "I'm with BugMeNot, to many people worry about this kind of crap and not actual GAME content."

    i read this kind of stuff on game boards all the time and what i dont understand is why do people always say it we are making a choice, "connections or gameplay""graphics or gameplay" "sound or gameplay"

    we arent making a choice, its just that the connections in this article is the topic and concern. doesnt mean that people dont care about gameplay. we want it all, connections, gameplay, etc. adding a connection isnt gonna take away anything on the gameplay front, and we still want the gameplay. people that make those coments always talk like "oooo dont complain about this or they will not have gameplay" its not like that at all, we want it all, just that in this article dvi and hdmi is the focus
  • SkeletaLlama, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1Most of America still doesn't have HD, like 99% of us. So HD is not a big selling point for the system. Besides, I remember when I worked selling video games when the last generation came out. Hundreds of people a week were coming in complaining that they couldn't get their systems to play because they came with the wrong inputs. These people need RF adaptors to play their Xboxes and Gamecubes, which both supported progressives scan. People don't have HD, and most don't give a rat's ass about it. It's only the tech geeks with money who care, and they represent such a small proportion of the population that purchases game systems as to be virtually irrelevant in terms of overall sales.
  • OswaldKenobi, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0So, you include DVI or HDMI cables and alienate the majority of your consumer base. Or you raise the price to include component cables too. Either way, Microsoft loses customers. Very bad idea.
  • teacherG, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1Most TVs are only coming with a single DVI or HDMI connection. I would imagine most people are going to connect their high-end DVD player or HD Sat. cable box to it. Also, most TVs that have a DVI or HDMI connection are also including the component input. So, you have the ability to connect your Xbox (component) and your other equipment (DVI or HDMI). Besides, its just a game Focker.

    Although... for a $400 gaming console, that thing should come with every possible connection.
  • Argon52, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0I have no HDMI or DVI on my TV...and I was an early adopter when it came to HDTVs (2000) so, +I think it is a VERY smart move..and I just hope that when/if they upgrade to HD-DVD they will allow the signal to continue through the Component cables...and not force it into DVI or HDMI...because that would mean I have to get a new TV! and that would suck!
  • jordan1, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0I currently use (and will continue to use with the 360) a VGA adapter called the vga2xbox (or something like that) to connect to the VGA connection on my Plasma.....pure HD and I don't have to use up my DVI port that my HD Tivo uses.
  • mannyg3, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0I'm buying the 360 to play games in hd not to watch movies. Yes it would be great if it did include dvi or hdmi but these drives are still 2 expensive and are just not fast enough. the xbox team knows what they are doing and i think they are just being smart about it. the 360 is going to rule to gaming planet. stoked!!
  • wthnow, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0I use a vdigi xga trans-coder hooked via component cables to an xbox in progressive scan mode. The vdigi is hooked to a 21" CRT. It will accept any progressive scan source 480p or 720p. The picture is clear enough for me. As long as xbox 360 offers all games in 720p minimum I'll be happy.

    Link to article about vdigi cost about $60 US.

    http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&ct=res&cd=2&url=http%3A//xbox.about.com/od/xboxaccessories/fr/vdz3rev.htm&ei=BEkHQ_CECYPSaZW35JUO
  • KevinJ, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0Actually, the full Xbox 360 is bundled with HDMU, the Core System is not, but who is going to buy that anyway
  • Flynnz, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0I defy anyone in here to tell the difference between the 2.

    Though I must admit I wish it had it as well.

    Or even better firewire out, So I can record my games with dvhs :)
  • polvo, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0Considering most comsumers can't use this because they don't have HD tvs why would microsoft add this and raise the price for something that most people won't use.
  • Hale, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0my sony RP LCD TV has 2 HDMI inputs. one is going to my dvd player.. which if developed well, the xbox 360 would replace. I would then still have one for a digital cable/satellite box. also has dvi if I had to get picky. :)
  • jediboytj, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0doesnt matter to me. i have an older HDTV that doenst include the HDMI or DVI inputs, but rather only component... and component is still very very beautiful
  • InvisionUK, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0I don't think it's really that big of a deal. In the UK and most of Europe we don't even *have* hi-def yet, so for us, Microsoft not including it as standard is barely anything to cry about.

    It's like having a go at Bassett's because they don't make tartan jelly babies.
  • autok2, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0That's insane, HDMI is going to be like friggin RCA cables in the next 2 years. Microsoft = morons.
  • Hale, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0"What I'm outraged at is that they STILL don't include s-video on the regular video cable!! I added s-video to my standard XBox video cable with the cord off an old Apple keyboard and the picture looks sooo much better. $30 for a connection that should be on the standard cable... blah!"

    there is no argument that s-video is better than composite.. and the s-video microsoft cable for xbox was only $20.

    the difference is that when the xbox came out HD was very new and there weren't any plans in the near future for it to be big enough to include standard. the xbox 360 is different. by the time the next consoles after 360/ps3 emerge, HD might even be the standard. this means that HD will play a huge part of a consumer's future during the 360's life span. if microsoft wants to continue to tout the 360 as "THE HD CONSOLE", there is absolutely no excuse for not including both hdmi and hd-dvd at least as launch options.
  • hypeiv, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0does any tv have more than one HDMI input? does any receiver include HDMI switching?

    I don't know of any... so if they do exist there aren't many

    I don't think anyone is ready to switch 100% to HDMI and pay for an expensive switcher. I have 1 hdmi and 2 component on my tv and my receiver can do 3 to 1 component switching. My HTPC is hooked to my hdmi port, and even though my cable box has hdmi out, I use the component b/c I only have one HDMI port.
  • gabebear, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0What I'm outraged at is that they STILL don't include s-video on the regular video cable!! I added s-video to my standard XBox video cable with the cord off an old Apple keyboard and the picture looks sooo much better. $30 for a connection that should be on the standard cable... blah!

    Anyhoo, the HD-DVD consortium is right now saying that they will ONLY allow 480i/480p for HD-DVD on component cables. To my knowledge Blu-Ray players aren't planned to be hobbled this way. 480p isn't much of an upgrade over s-video.
  • Nyuura, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0i'm sure maybe there will be a dvi or hdmi cab;e for the 360 in the future , but c'mon its launch! it wouldn't sell well anyway cuz you'd have to pay 400 for the system , 60 for the game , and then throw 150 on top of that for an hdmi cable? save it for whene veryone already has a 360 so they can upgrade to a digital output .
  • autok2, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0xbox fanboys are funny! it's going to be looking waaay up at PS3 no matter what the output is. But it's just something else I can use to poke fun peeps that buy that turd. 'Componant' is an interface that is dying, and quite dead already in displays that are computer/tv hybrids. So to keep with the "we're Microsoft, we have no vision or originality" concept, maybe they'll even bundle a version of IE that only loads sites built with FrontPage. They simply excel at pissing on standards. It's why they are a vile company, one who is only feared, not respected. Enjoy your xbox "360", a spinning spiral of *****.
  • zebwinz, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0has anybody checked the prices of hdmi cables lately? I just checked bestbuy.com and the silver plated 4m HDMI monster cables are $149!!! That's just for the cable!! If they included the cable in with the composite, the bundle would cost well over 500 bucks!

    P.S. There is a spell checker at the bottom before you submit.
  • wilf_brim, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0It would be nice if they could include DVI or HDMI outputs. DVI would be more appropriate, as the ausio is coming out of a separate source. However, as was pointed out earlier, it appears that the only video output that the card is wired for is analog. Using either of these two requires an additional conversion, with attendant loss of visual fidelity.

    The issue here (I think) has far less to do with the Xbox decision not to include HDMI, but rather the greedy MPAA and their minions in insisting on output copy protection for high definintion output. This is going to alienate TONS of earlier (or not so early) adopters.

    My point: Go into any store that sells HDTVs. Look in the back of them. You are going to be suprised. I bet that you can buy quite a few models withe NEITHER DVI or HDMI. Even today HDMI is NOT standard, maybe 70% or less have HDMI outputs. Imagine how pissed out tens of thousands of HDTV owners are going to be when they find out that they are not going to be able to play HD DVD content because of enforced copy protection.

    The MPAA may completely screw up the entire next generation of HD DVD with their greed.
  • RAT-Man, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0Good thinkg PS3 will be taking advantage of it.
  • bernardroth, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0Would they be limiting the output to 480i/480p to stop possible piracy? Much like the broadcast flag limiting video resolution.
  • spartan777, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0just another way xbox 360 is going to suck
  • mcbesq, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0The difference is slight at best. First of all, 720p is going to be supported, and considering that that is the highest res. currently available, I'm happy. Second, if the people submitting the msrp for HDMI cables are correct, than MS is making a wise choice.

    True, the signal will go digital-analog-digital, but anyone with an HDMI input undoubtedly has an upconverter built into his/her set. The quiblle is better reserved for those without a decent upconverter.

    My question is this: Who the hell still uses RCA-composites? My god, the resolution is terrible.

    I mean, come on people, why not stick the ol' "TV/Game" switcher-box onto the back and plop a pair of rabbit ears on top of the set. Time for RCA to go the way of parallel cables.
  • DARKWATER, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0Get real people, most people that will spend $400.00 on a system than $100.00 to $200.00 on games and ex. stuff . might and should want to play it on a tv that is worth more than $150.00 (piece of crap..) Any tv that cost more than $500.00 has at least comp. inputs and s-video.360 games will all set for w/s.Have the right tv or your not going to be playing at top quality.
  • birdadderley, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0neither is the Revolution
  • Gotar, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0OH NOES DA X_BOCKZ IZ DOOMD!
  • jp10558, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0I just don't think there is a huge penetration of HDTV in the mainstream. All the TVs people have that I know about have CoAx inputs. I have to use a VCR to get the DVD players to feed to the TVs.

    The newer TVs I see selling at reasonable prices ($80 - $150) usually have RCA in. I have yet to actually see a TV that anyone I know would buy that has anything other than that.

    I'm sorry, as far as I can tell from store displays, if you pay over $150 for a TV you've got more money than sense. I mean, you can get 27" TVs for the middle of that range. How big does the TV need to be?

    Granted, the one thing is it seems like we're going to 16:9 from 4:3 for some odd reason, but even if you switch to a 16:9 screen, you just end up with vertical instead of horizontal black bars on half the things you'd play.
  • justinbaily, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0Hey i've got a sharp ld-26sh1u hdtv/monitor with ALL the inputs
    (conponent,vga,dvi and hdmi) and i've ordered a 360 hdmi cable from pelican (well really j/r but it's made by pellican) problem is it's yet to be released with no eta.

    Yes it's all about the games and conponent is great...but it's analog (if i'm buying 360 i want it in the best input possible)
    and hdmi carries HD DIGITAL picture/sound over a single cable.
    Personally i'm still looking for an up-converter taking conposite-conponent and sending it all out as hdmi as well as being an 8 way hdmi selector switchbox...it'd also be nice to have a toslink audio out for older equipment so even if you send 8 hdmi devices in you could output in toslink and in hdmi at the same time.
  • somenutter, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0logal said: From what I've been reading about the 360s Digital to analog conversion, HDMI won't make a bit of difference, it may actually hurt the quality, because of another analog to Digital conversion. You would still need it for HD-DVDs though, just because of HDCP.

    the thing is if there was a hdmi connection on xb360 there would be no need to convert to an analog signal in the first place so an hdmi connection would have been a real good idea but at the same time ive got to say ive watched plenty of dvds through my arcam dv88+ and that is with component connection and the picture is better than anything ive ever seen before and that is on a 32 inch crt tv so if it performs as well as that i dont think there is much we can moan about its just the fact that me and perhaps a lot of other av enthusiasts like the best and the latest tech available even if it doesnt make that much difference so if anyone from microsoft reads this get your act together and bring out a new version of xbox 360 with blu ray and hdmi 1080p so we dont have to listen to playstation freeks going on about how brill ps3s look on there 42 inch plasmas running through hdmi 1080p or maybe 2 displays running hdmi 1080p anyway ive had my say the end.
  • Logal, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0From what I've been reading about the 360s Digital to analog conversion, HDMI won't make a bit of difference, it may actually hurt the quality, because of another analog to Digital conversion. You would still need it for HD-DVDs though, just because of HDCP.

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